Group: Members
Posts: 1,308
Joined: 18-January 06
From: The place with the best track ever.
Member No.: 8,301

Have any of you gone this way. I have been riding clips for years. I have tried to play around on plats but find myself having a hard time with it. I broke my back 6 weeks ago and I am thinking about coming back on plats. I understand there are some things I will be giving up (better gates, first straights, pedal slippage, etc, but I would like to see how and if I can actually compete like this. Just wondering. Thanks for input.

btw this really is not because I broke my back, it has more to do with all the injuries I have sustained over the years.

I've tried riding the track without my clip shoes and absolutely can't do it anymore. Of course this was with Vans but I was on my Shimano 545 clip pedals. I think I've only tried riding Plats one time and it just felt weird to me. I'm sure I coulda got use to it, but I found no reason to keep trying it.

I haven't pedaled one pedal since October on a bicycle. When I do get back on one it will be on flat pedals, I'll let you know how it goes. I've noticed my knee pain has gone away even though I am still riding MX bikes for fun. I just think my knees and clipless pedals do not agree. Nothing else seems to bother them like that.

I`ll say this much...at least get some very grippy flats. I run my platforms at the track once in a while, and when I would use my cruddy ol` cast redlines I`d spend half my time on my heels. I`m now considering switching back to plats all together after using the Atomlab Aircorps. Big, Thin, and VERY grippy. Probably the grippiest pedal I`ve ever used, even in less than dry conditions.

Group: Members
Posts: 1,308
Joined: 18-January 06
From: The place with the best track ever.
Member No.: 8,301

Oh I completely agree about the injuries being related to clips. I am just tired of that being in the back of my head.

Vans good. Going to store to buy now. I have 3 sets of plats. I am going to try a little of all 3 to see which works. I have some specialized from 98ish I have used that seem to grip good. If none work off to UC to add to the account.